Weekly Policy Update

The Second Harvest Weekly Hunger Policy Update highlights what's new on hunger, nutrition and poverty issues. Second Harvest will use this policy update to alert you to trends, reports, news items and resources and, when available, link you directly to them. 

KQ2: Food Bank Reports Growing Number of Hungry Children
http://stjoechannel.com/fulltext-news/?nxd_id=220027

News Press: Child Hunger Called a Crisis
http://www.newspressnow.com/localnews/28969436/detail.html

New Study Shows High Rates of Children Living at Risk of Hunger in Every County in the Nation
August 25, 2011
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-study-shows-high-rates-of-children-living-at-risk-of-hunger-in-every-county-in-the-nation-128374368.html

The nation's largest hunger relief organization, Feeding America, today released a new study which reveals that children are struggling with hunger in every county and congressional district in America.

"Map the Meal Gap: Child Food Insecurity 2011" shows that rates of child food insecurity range from a low of seven percent, in Steele County, North Dakota; to highs of more than 50 percent in Zavala and Starr Counties, which are both in Texas.

"The prevalence and consequences of our nation's child food insecurity problem are well documented, but our efforts to adequately address the problem have been hindered by a lack of data at the local level," said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. "This new information addresses this need by providing first-ever data about the prevalence of child food insecurity (CFI) at the county and congressional district level."

ABC News, Going Hungry in America
August 24, 2011
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/hungry-america-14375108

[WATCH THE VIDEO]

ABC News, Food Banks Need Your Help
August 24, 2011
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=7378291

[WATCH THE VIDEO]

ABC News, From Middle-Class to Food Pantry: Single Dad Sells Possessions to Feed His Family
August 24, 2011
http://abcnews.go.com/US/hunger_at_home/hunger-home-single-dad-sells-possessions-feed-family/story?id=14373427

[WATCH THE VIDEO]
 

 
ABC News, Hunger at Home: Since Recession 20 Million More Americans on Food Stamps
August 24, 2011
http://abcnews.go.com/US/hunger_at_home/hunger-home-recession-14-million-americans-food-stamps/story?id=14373319

The McKimmons girls in Arkansas pray before each dinner, grateful for every meal. Michelle Sutton near Atlanta sacrifices her own food for her boys. And 10-year-old Jahzaire Sutton in Philadelphia has a nearly empty refrigerator.

In every corner of the country, a portrait of hidden hunger has now emerged. The recession has pushed 2.4 million more children into poverty. Seventeen million children are "food insecure," meaning their parents often don't know where the next meal will come from.

Simply put, one in six Americans don't have enough food.

Posted by David Davenport, Second Harvest Executive Director - Friday, 08/26/11, 11:15 AM - Comments -